Person:Ephraim Shaefer (1)

[no source given for the following]

Ephraim was 69 years 6 months and 6 days at the time of his death. Deceased was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1890 and had been a faithful member for 48 years. Funeral services were held at the residence north of Adair, Iowa, Sunday, March 15, 1908, conducted by Rev. Kelly of North Branch.

Upon arriving in Thompson township, Guthrie county, he purchased forty acres which he traded for a farm in Grant township on section 1. His intention was to make a specialty of stock raising, and had a number of Durman cattle. His home was one of the finest in Grant township and he had a nice orchard. Middle River ran across the south side of his farm and afforded abundant water privileges. He took an active part in politics and was a staunch Republican and held the position of clerk and trustee of Grant township.

Ephraim F. Shaefer was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 5, 1838, son of Isaac and Rosena (Huffman) Schaefer. In 1852 the home was moved to Carroll County, Indiana, where the family engaged in farming until Isaac’s death. Ephraim was 12 years old when his parents moved to Carroll County, Indiana. Ephraim shared the life of the farm with six siblings and attended the district school.

He was twenty-two when hostilities broke out between the North and the South. In August 1861 he entered the War in its first year as a member of Company A, 46th Indiana Infantry. He served under the Old Fighting Colonel Thomas H. Bringhurst until the end of the War.

He participated in many battles such as The Battle of New Madrid Island #10, Riddles Paint, Fort Pillow, Fort Pillow Osceola, Memphis, St. Charles Clarendon, Helena Napolean, Grand Prairie, Crackets Bluff, Tallahatchie Cold Water, Yazoo Pass, Fort Remberton, Grand Gulf, Fort Gibson, Fourteen Mile Creek, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, Vicksburg, Second Battle of Jackson, Grand Coteau, Spanish Lake, Nelson Fram, Vermillionville, Sabina Crossing, Pleasant Hill, Red River, Shawneeetown, Saltville, Prestonburg, Catlettsburg, Barres Landing, Fort Randolph, Atchafalga Bay, Silver Springs, Fort Greenwood, and Baton Rouge.

On returning from the War he married Rachel McMahan, the daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Bird) McMahan, on March 15, 1865. For the first five years they lived on rented land in Indiana, but thinking to have a better opportunity for becoming the owners of a farm in the newer and less settled west they moved to Iowa in 1869, locating in Thompson Twp. in Guthrie County. They had ten children, Benjamin Franklin, Noah Webster, Effie May, Sadie Josephine, Amelia Agnes, William Wilson, Nelson Joseph, Herman Samuel, Arthur Alva, and Elmer Edmond. Ephraim F. died on March 11, 1908. Rachel died October 13, 1926.

1.   Civil War Discharge Papers
   Dec 1864.

   To All Whom It May Concern: Know ye, that Ephraim F. Shaefer a Private Captain of Captain William A Pigman's Company, (A) 46th Regiment of Indiana Infantry VOLUNTEERS who was enrolled on the First day of November one thousand eight hundred and Sixty One to serve Three years or during the war, is hereby Discharged from the service of the United State this lst day of December 1864, at Indianapolis, Indiana by reason of Expiration of Terms of Service. No objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist.* Said Ephraim F. Shaefer was born in Fairfield Co. in the State of Ohio, is Twenty One years of age, Five feet Ten inches high, Light complexion, Hazel eyes, Light hair and by occupation, when enrolled a Farmer & School Teacher. Given at Indianapolis, Ind. this 1st day of December 1864. J. B. Hays (? signature).

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Find A Grave.

   Ephraim F. Shaefer

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Leon Kearns. Shaeffers of Fairfield County, Ohio.